Hem folder and edge guide attachment for sewing machines



Sept. 13, 1960 A. N. HALE ET AL 2,952,227

HEM FOLDER AND EDGE GUIDE ATTACHMENT FOR sswmc MACHINES Filed April 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 s'et. 13,1960 A. N. HALE ETAL 2,952,227

HEM FOLDER AND EDGE GUIDE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. l3, 1960 A. N. HALE ET AL 2,952,227

HEM FOLDER AND EDGE. GUIDE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 1?, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.3

MACHINES Sept. 13, 1960 A. N. HALE ETAL HEM FOLDER AND EDGE GUIDE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 1'7, 1957 W1 LLIITI LLLI IIIIIHIIIIH p 1960 A. N. HALE ETAL 2,952,227

HEM FOLDER AND EDGE GUIDE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 1'7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet FIGJO United States Patent 2,952,227 HEM FOLDER AND EDGE GUIDE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Arthur N. Hale, Park Ridge, and Clarence C. Smith, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 17, 1957, $61. No. 653,489 11 Claims. (or. 112-143 This invention relates to an improved hem folding and edge guiding mechanism for sewing machines. It is particularly concerned with mechanism of this character applied to an overedge type of sewing machine adapted to provide a blind-stitch in the formation of a hem.

A primary purpose of the invention has been to provide devices for folding and guiding a work piece, adjacent one edge thereof, which devices are of simple and compact construction and capable of easy control to insure the proper formation of a blind-stitch overedge seam in a hemming operation under varying conditions.

In the blind-stitching of hems, various different conditions are frequently encountered and it is important that the sewing machine operator be able to change quickly the relationship of various parts of a hem folder and edge guide to the stitch forming and other devices in order to facilitate high speed and accurate production of the hems. Thus .in normal operation of the machine, in working upon a section of fabric of uniform character, the parts may be retained in a particular set position which is such that the sewing needle will pass through 2,952,221 Patented Sept. 13, 19.60

shifted to another position to permit a greater movement of the folder and edge guide upon operation of the kneepress when a repair operation is to be performed. In this case the hem folder may be readily flipped into an inoperative position.

In combination with the foregoing features of the new hem folding and edge guiding attachment there is incorporated in the construction certain readily adjustable means for accurately and variably locating certain parts of the device in relation to the cooperating elements of the machine. Provision is also made for readily locking the hem folding member against rising and falling movements normally permitted during the operation of the machine. Locking of the hem folder in a fixed vertical position facilitates accuracy in the formation of hems which require extreme precision.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of an i1- lustrative embodiment of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an overedge sewing machine embodying the invention, certain parts being broken away for clarity of illustration of other parts;

Fig. 2. is a partially enlarged front.elevational view of the hemfolder and edge guide and related parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the frame of the machine being shown in broken outline;

Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 but with the hem folder, edge guide and related parts in another position;

a folded edge of the fabric in such a way that the needle thread will not be exposed at the inner face of the fold when the fabric is unfolded. However, when an extra thickness of the work is encountered, due, for example, to the presence of a cross seam in the fabric, a slightly different setting of the parts is desirable. This is due to the fact that if the setting were unchanged the edge guide would force the work into a position in which the needle would not pass properly through the folded edge of the work. Again, a different setting of the edge guide is desirable in the correction or repair of an improperly formed portion of a blind-stitch hem. For this purpose the edge guide should be shifted even-slightly further, to the right of the needle path, than in thecase of a cross seam in order to take into the seam a slightly greater portion of the fabric in the region of the fold. Moreover, at this time the hem folder is preferably thrown out of operation since the fabric has previously been folded along a desired line.

The present invention provides readily and quickly operable means for taking care of these three conditions. For this purpose the machine is provided with an attachment, secured to the frame, comprising a combined hem folder and edge guide which may be shifted to two different, predetermined extents in relation to the line .of stitch formation, under control of a knee-press member. The shifting of the attachment may thus be accomplished while the machine is in operation and while the operator has both hands occupied in handling the work. An ele ment which may be very quickly shifted manually from one position to another on the connections from the kneepress member determines the extent to which the hem .folder and edge guide will be shifted upon operation of the knee-press. This element may normally be retained in a position in which operation of'the knee-press will shift the folder and edge guide to the position desired When a cross seam is encountered. The element may be Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the hem folder and edge guide and related parts;

- Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a portion of the machine frame and the means for mounting the hem folder, edge guide and related parts thereon;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the devices shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational View of the hem folder and edge guide and their supporting means; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with a portion of the supporting means shown in section;.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of certain parts of the hem folding and edge guiding attachment; and

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing details of the edge guide construction. V

The invention is disclosed herein as applied to an overedge sewing machine of the general character more fully shown and described in the Wallenberg et al. Patent No. 2,704,042, granted March 15, 1955. Since the present invention is not concerned with the details of the stitch forming, work feeding and edge trimming mech anisms of the machine, these will be but briefly described herein and reference may be made to said Wallenberg et al. patent for a'fuller disclosure of suitable mechanism for the purposes. I

Referring now to the, drawings, the machinecomprises a main frame 10 providing an enclosed housing for most of. the driving mechanism for the stitch forming, work feeding and edge trimming mechanisms. A removable cover 11 completes the enclosed housing and is provided 1 at its lower end. The presser foot is pivotally connected with the lower end of the arm -14 and is urged by the spring mechanism into engagement with a throat plate 16 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). This throat plate is secured by a screw 16a to a portion of the frame at substantially the level of the cloth plate of the machine.

A combined hand wheel and pulley 17 at the right end of the main frame 10 (Fig. 1) is secured to a main drive shaft which extends longitudinally of the frame. Suitable connections, of the character disclosed in said Wallenberg et al. patent are provided from this main shaft for driving the stitch forming, work feeding and edge trimming mechanisms. The stitch forming devices include a curved needle 18 (Fig. 1) secured to a rock arm 19. Throat plate 16 is provided with a passage 16d (Fig. 6) through which the needle is oscillated. A stitch finger 16e is provided on the throat plate to facilitate proper formation of the overedge stitches. Cooperating with the needle in forming overedge stitches is an underlooper 18a and an overedge looper or spreader 18b adapted to form either a three-thread or a two-thread overedge stitch. The loopers and their corresponding rods are shown in Fig. 6. Work feeding devices included in the machine, feed dogs 18c and 18d (Fig. 6), may be of the differential feed type disclosed in said Wallenberg et a1. patent. The feed dogs are adapted to pass upwardly through openings 16b and 160 in the throat plate to engage the work. The edge trimming mechanism may also be of the character disclosed in said patent and includes a movable blade 20 carried by a rock arm 21 driven from the main shaft of the machine. Movable blade 20 cooperates with a stationary blade 22, mounted beneath the throat plate. The means for supporting the stationary cutter blade may suitably be of the character more fully disclosed in the patent to Peterson, et al., No. 2,636,462 granted April 28, 1953. Throat plate 16 is provided with a recess 16] to accommodate the trimming mechanism.

A vertical shoulder 23 on the machine frame (Fig. is arranged to carry a bracket 24 which is secured to the frame byscrews 25. On a downwardly extending portion of the bracket 24 there is pivotally mounted a lever 26, of bell-crank form, this being mounted for rocking movement about a screw stud 27 carried by the bracket. A spring 28 normally urges the lever into the position indicated in Fig. 1 in which a part carried by the lever cooperates with an outwardly projecting portion 29 of the bracket. An outwardly projecting shelf 30 adjacent the bottom of the bracket, against which one end of the spring 28 reacts, carries an adjustable screw 31 which may be locked in set position by a nut 32. This screw serves to limit the extent of rocking movement of the lever 26 as it is pulled downwardly by a chain 33 connected with a treadle or knee press member 33a (Fig. 1) of conventional construction. This, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, brings about a shifting of the position of the hem folder and edge guide when desired, under the control of the operator and while the machine is in operation and the operators hands are occupied with the proper handling of the work.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4-10, inclusive, the improved hem folder and edge guide is carried by a block-like support 34 secured to the frame of the machine. This support has an extension 35 at its left end (Fig. 7) adapted to be secured to a portion 36 (Fig. 4) of a pedestal provided on the frame. Extension 35 has a rearwardly projecting rib 37 extending from top to bottom of its rearward face, arranged to cooperate with a groove in the adjacent face of the portion 36 of the frame. An opening 38 extending through the extension 35 is adapted to receive a screw 39 for securing the support to the frame. The arrangement is such that the support is adapted for limited vertical adjustment on the frame, by virtue of suitable clearance between the shank of the screw 39 and the opening 38. Carried by the support 34 is a slide 40 having a downward extension 41 provided with outwardly flaring guide faces, at its front and rear, arranged to cooperate with corresponding surfaces on a gibbed formation 42 extending upwardly from the support. In this way the slide is guided for longitudinal movement along the support. A screw mw bt r 43, having screw threaded engagement with an opening in the support 34, has a knurled head by which it may be readily turned to effect relative adjustment of the support and slide. The shank of the screw member passes through an enlarged opening in the downward extension 45 on the slide with which cooperates one end of a coil spring 46. The opposite end of this spring cooperates with a collar 47 secured to the shank of the screw member. As will be seen in Fig. 8, the spring 46 urges the slide toward the left until a downward extension 48 thereon engages the collar 47. Spring 46 is relatively stiff and does not yield in the normal operation of the machine but only in response to a positive shifting force applied to the slide 40 in themanner to be explained. By turning of the knurled head 44 the slide may be shifted either toward the right or toward the left to position accurately the parts to be described which are carried by the slide. These must be positioned accurately in relation to the path of the needle 18 to insure proper formation of the blind stitching. A frusto-conical collar member 49, secured to the screw member, may carry suitable indicia to indicate the relative positions of the slide and support and thus facilitate proper adjustment of the slide. a v

Upward extensions 50 at the front and rear of the slide 40 provide a suitable space between them for a block 51 which is pivotally mounted on the slide by means of a screw '52. The latter extends through alined openings in the front extension 50 of the slide and in the block 51 and has screw threaded engagement with the rear extension .50 of the slide. Secured to the top of the block 51 is a hem folder 53, this being fastened to the block by means of a screw 54. As shown in Fig. 5, the right end of the hem folder 53 is forked to straddle an upwardly extending rib 5411 on the slide which receives the screw 54. While the hem folder shown is formed as a stamping from a fiat strip of metal which is bent into the desired shape, it may, if desired be formed of a section of relatively stiff wire which is simply bent into the desired configuration. In either case, the arrangement is such that the longitudinal position of the hem folder in relation to the slide may be readily adjusted as desired. At its left end the hem folder has a bend 55 which provides a reversely extending arm presenting a free edge 56 arranged to cooperate with the fold in the fabric through which the needle thread is passed in forming blind stitching. The general arrangement of the fabric in relation to the hem folder is indicated by the S-shaped line 57 in Fig. 7. The bend 55 in the hem folder serves as a gauge for the depth of the hem and, as noted in Fig. 7, the free edge of the top layer of the folded fabric extends over a portion of the slide. It will be understood that as the fabric is fed toward the stitching point this free'edge of the fabric will be trimmed, by the trimming mechanism mentioned above, so as to present a uniformedge adjacent the fold in the fabric which slides along. the edge 56 of the hem folder. In the normal use of the device the hem folder will be permitted to rise and fall slightly to conform with variations in the thickness of the work. The pivotal support 52 for the hem folder enables this rising and falling movement. However, in performing special hemming operations requiring extreme precision, it is sometimes found desirable to retain the hem folder in a substantially fixed position during the stitching operation and to enable this to be done a screw 58, cooperating with a screw threaded opening in the forward extension 50 of the slide, is arranged to have itsv inner end pressed against the forward face of the block 51 and thus prevent rocking of the latter. In the normal use of the device the lowermost position of the hem folder is determined by the engagement of the bottom surface of the block51 with the top of a set screw 59 .(Fig. 9). By suitable adjustment of this screw thehem; fo de m y be accurately positioned at the desired elevation formance of its work.

An extension 60 at the left end of the slide 40 is arranged to carry an edge guide 61. The latter is pivota-lly mounted on the extension '60 by means of a screw stud 62. A spring 63 (Fig. normally urges the edge guide 61 in a counterclockwise direction under a suitable force which may be varied by adjustment of the set screw 64. The arrangement is such that the edge guide may rock about its pivot 62 to a limited extent, whenever required, to accommodate slight extra thicknesses of the folded edge of the fabric passing along the edge 56 of the hem folder. ,When the machine is equipped with the connections from a knee press to the slide 40, to shift the same at the will of the operator when an extra thickness of the work is encountered, the screw 64 will be ordinarily adjusted to substantially eliminate the yielding action of the spring 63. However, when the machine is installed without the knee press connections the screw 64 is adjusted to permit the spring 63 to yield as an extra thickness in the fold passes along the edge guide 61 so that the latter will not shift the work toward the left at such times. Moreover, at times, in doing certain work, the latter mode of operation may be found desirable even in the use of a machine equipped with the knee press connections. The normal position of the edge guide 61 may be adjusted to a limited extent by adjustment of a set screw 65 cooperating with a vertical surface adjacent the forward end of the edge guide. It should be mentioned in connection with the various adjustments provided on the device of the invention, extreme accuracy in the location of the parts to insure their for the best perproper operation may be brought about without the maintenance of extreme tolerances in the formation of the parts. The fold in the fabric which passes along the edge 56 of the hem folder slides along a vertical surface 66 adjacent the forward end of the edge guide which is in substantial alinement with a vertical surface 67 on a rearwardly extending finger of the edge guide. Intermediate these surfaces, the edge guide has a curved surface 68 which is positioned opposite the free edge 56 of the hem folder. A small ledge 66a extends laterally from the edge guide in the region of the surface 66 and assists in retaining the fold of the fabric against the edge '56 of the hem folder. 1

A link 69 is pivotally connected by a screw stud 70 with the slide 40. Stud 70 is retained by a screw threaded opening 70a (Fig. 10) in the slide. At its opposite end the link 69 is provided with an elongated opening 71 arranged to cooperate with a pin 72 carried by an upwardly extending arm 26a of the bell-crank lever 26. Slidably mounted on the horizontally extending arm of the lever 26 is a member 73, preferably formed of thin spring metal, having portions arranged to extend over the top and under the bottom edges of the lever. The arrangement is such that due to the springiness of the element 73 it is retained frictionally in either of its two intended positions. Element 73 is provided with an elongated opening 74 cooperating with a screw stud 75 carried by the lever 26. A small fingerpiece 76 formed on the element 73 enables it to be shifted either into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or that shown in Fig. 3.

When the element 73 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the parts will normally assume the position indicated in that view in which the spring 28 holds the lever 26 upwardly, with the element 73 in engagement with the overturned extension 29 of the bracket 24. When the knee press is operated to draw downwardly on the chain 33 the arm 26 will be rockeddownwardly until the lower edge of the element 73 engages the top of the screw 31, as shown in Fig. 2. This is the desired position of the parts when an extra thickness of the fabric, such as occasioned by a cross seam, is passing between the hem folder and the edge guide. Fig. 1 illustrates the normal position of the parts when the fabric'passing between the hem folder and the edge guide is of normal thickness. In each instance the arrangement is such that theneedle will pass through the folded edge of the fabric passed around the edge '56 of the hem folder, to form the conventional overedge blind stitch. It is because the movement of the slide from its Fig. 1 to its Fig. 2 position is very small, less than that it is desirable to provide the lost motion connection from the knee press afforded by the elongated opening 71. This eliminates the danger of accidental shifting of the slide by an inadvertent slight movement of the operators knee.

When a repair operation is to be performed on an imperfectly formed scam, in which the needle thread may not have passed properly through the fold in the fabric, the element 73 will be shifted into the position shown in Fig. 3 at which time the lever 26 may be rocked downwardly, upon operation of the knee press, to a somewhat greater extent. This is due to the fact that the downward movement of the lever is now stopped by engagement of a recessed surface 77 in the lower edge of the arm 26 with the top of the screw 31. .In performing such repair operations the hem folder is not normally required and therefore it may be swung upwardly into the inoperative position shown in Fig. 3. With the parts so positioned the work advancing toward the stitching point along the edge guide will be so positioned that the needle will pass through the fold in the fabric at a slightly greater distance inwardly from the folded edge.

Thus, it will be seen that in accordance with the invention the hem folder and edge guide may be readily controlled to insure proper stitching formation under three different conditions. Also, it will be noted, provision is made for accurate adjustment of the various parts for the precise formation of the line of stitching under each of the three conditions.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of certain of the parts within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work beingstitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for move-' ment into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a fol'ded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, and connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring means to a predetermined limited extent.

2. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured .to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, manually adjustable means for varying said predetermined position, an edgeguide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, and connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring means to a predetermined limited extent.

3. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation .to guide an edge of the work being stitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by .the leg of the operator, means carried by said member and shiftable thereon to different positions, and connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring to different predetermined extents depending upon the position of said means on said member.

4. An attachment of the character set forth in claim 3 in which said means carried by said member is a slidable element which is retained by friction in either of two positions to which it may be shifted.

5. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring means to a predetermined limited extent, and adjustable means for predetermining the position to which said slide is shifted upon operation of said member by the leg of the operator.

6. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, said edge guide being pivotally mounted on said slide for rocking movement about a fixed vertical pivot adjacent the forward end of said guide, spring means normally urging said edge guide about its pivot into a predetermined position, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, and connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said first-mentioned spring means to a predetermined limited extent.

7. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse-to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into'a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, said edge guide being pivotally mounted on said slide for rocking movement about a fixed vertical pivot adjacent the forward end of said guide, spring means normally urging said edge guide about its pivot into a predetermined position, means for adjusting the predetermined position into which said edge guide is urged by said last-mentioned spring means, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains-a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, and connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said first-mentioned spring means to a predetermined limited extent.

8. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into .a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, a hem foider pivotally mounted on said slide for lifting and lowering movements about a horizontal axis and means provided with an end surface for presenting and retaining a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, adjustable means for determining the lowermost position of said hem folder, a member operative by the leg of the operator, and connections from said member to said slide for shift-, ing the latter against the action of said spring means to a predetermined limited extent.

9. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted von said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for lifting and lowering movements about a horizontal axis and. means provided with an end surface for presenting and retaining a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, means for locking said folder against pivotal movement when desired, a member operative by the leg of the operator, and connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring means to a predetermined limited extent.

10. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured .to saidv frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverserto the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the work being stitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, means carried by said member and shiftable thereon to different positions, connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring to diiferent predetermined extents depending upon the position of said means on said member, and adjustable means on said frame for varying the extents to which said slide may be shifted upon operation of said member.

11. A blind-stitch hemming attachment for an overedge sewing machine having a frame and work feeding and stitch forming means, which comprises a support adapted to be secured to said frame, a slide mounted on said support for movement in a direction transverse to the line of feed, spring means urging said slide into a predetermined position in relation to the support, an edge guide mounted on said slide and provided with a surface disposed in a direction generally parallel with the line of feed and substantially in alignment with the line of stitch formation to guide an edge of the Work being stitched, a hem folder pivotally mounted on said slide for movement into and out of an operative position in which it presents and retains a folded edge of the work for movement along said surface of said guide, a member operative by the leg of the operator, means carried by said member and shiftable thereon to different positions, connections from said member to said slide for shifting the latter against the action of said spring to diflferent predetermined extents depending upon the position of said means on said member, means carried by said support and cooperating with said slide for adjusting the zone of movement of said slide, and adjustable means on said frame for varying the extents to which said slide may be shifted upon operation of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

